Making changes to your home

If your health changes over time or you’re a new customer with additional needs we can help to make your home more suitable. We call these changes adaptations. An adaptation can be anything from a simple grab rail to installing a stair lift. Adaptations fall into one of two categories: minor adaptations and major adaptations.

Minor adaptations

These are small changes to your home which can help you to remain independent. This is work that costs less than £1,000, for example adding grab or hand rails, ramps, raised toilet seats or a wall mounted shower chair. We will cover the cost of minor adaptations.

Contact us if you need minor adaptations. When you get in touch, please provide as much information as possible, so we can assess your needs accurately.

Major adaptations

More significant work costing over £1,000 is classed as a major adaptation. This includes work like installing stair lifts or fitting a wet room or level access shower.

For all major adaptations contact your local council's care and support services and request an Occupational Therapist (OT) assessment. They’ll visit you in your home and assess your needs. The OT will send us a completed adaptation request form and their assessment report. They’ll also ask for permission for the major adaptation works to be carried out.

We don’t cover the cost of major adaptations, but you might be eligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) to help you pay for any work.

Contact us if you’re unsure about which type of adaptation is right for you.

Reviewing adaptation requests

Each request is reviewed on a case by case basis. That is why it’s really important that we receive as much information as possible.

Once a request has been reviewed, we’ll contact you to inform you of the decision. Our Adaptations team meets monthly to review adaptation requests, so we aim to contact customers with a decision within 30 days. This may take a little longer for more complex cases.

More information

Contact us if you have any questions about adaptations. You can also find more information in our adaptations policy [PDF].

Useful links: